This is the html version of "Bindery Requirements & Folding Impositions". A pdf version of this document can be downloaded here.

Please read carefully the information contained in this document. Inform the relevant personnel at your company about this web page and refer to it when you will be using Acme Bookbinding as your binder. Not complying with these requirements may result in missed deadlines, dissappointing finished results or additional charges.

We want to provide you with with the highest quality binding possible. Open and timely communication is the best way to ensure your satisfaction. Please "contact" us with any questions or concerns that you might have.

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Contents

Bindery Requirements

Endpapers
Stripping
Folding
Special Requirements and Tips
Packing and Shipping

Folding Impositions

4-Page Imposition
8-Page Imposition
12-Page Impositin
16-Page Oblong Imposition
16-Page Upright Imposition
24-Page Imposition
32-Page Imposition

Endpapers

Endpaper needs to be the same size as folded, untrimmed signatures.

Remember

• Paper grain must be parallel with the binding edge.
• Coated paper cannot be used as endpaper.
• Endpaper should be a minimum of 80# text weight.

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Stripping

• Check folding impositions supplied by Acme Bookbinding prior to stripping. Please use one of our impositions or call our office before proceeding.
• Printed endpaper should bleed to the untrimmed signature size.
• Use stepped/numbered spine markers whenever possible to assist in proper signature collation.
• Allow minimum 1/4" trims on the head, foot and front. Trims should not exceed 3/4" on head, foot, and front.
• Trims exceeding 3/4" head, foot or front will result in an additional trimming charge.
• The untrimmed paper covers of Smyth sewn or perfect bound paperback books should be at least 1/8" taller (head to foot) than the untrimmed text.
• The untrimmed paper covers of Smyth sewn or perfect bound paperback books that will have endpapers glued solid to the cover should be at least 1/8" wider (binding edge to front) than the untrimmed text as well as 1/8" taller.
• Head margins on all forms must be exactly the same to ensure proper registration. This includes inserts that may be trimmed for tipping or wrapping as well as signatures and covers.
• All signatures (including covers) printed in multiples, that is two or three up, must have the same head and foot margins between books.
• All signatures for Smyth sewn books must be the same size. Uneven signature lengths will require pre-trimming at additional cost.
• There is Absolutely No Grind off allowance on Smyth sewn books.
• Printed cover stock for hard bound books. Allow 5/8" turn-in on all four sides when printing cover stock for hard cover binding. This cover allowance enables the bindery to turn the cover stock over the board onto the inside surface of the cover. Remember that the trim size of the book is smaller than the size of the cover. The bindery will make a binding dummy to ensure correct stripping once you supply us with necessary materials and information. All paper cover stock must be film laminated -- for strength.
• Be sure that crop marks and color bars will be removed by trimming and that signature marks will be hidden by folding and sewing. Leave all marks at least 1/8" (preferably 1/4") outside the final trim area. Call if you have any questions.
• Be sure to check with the bindery if you have any cross-over printing that may require a glue trap on 2-page or 4-page tips onto signatures. We are not responsible for alignment if we do not OK the width of or need for the glue trap.
• When printing books with bleeds that run into the binding margin, as with art or photography books, please leave 3/32" unprinted and unvarnished glue trap in the gutter between signatures. Without the glue trap, we cannot guarantee that our adhesives will penetrate into the paper fibers and that your book will be sufficiently strong.
• Please Note: Any book comprised of many 8-page signatures.
  • If you print on 100# text or heavier, we can sew 8-Page signatures.
  • If you print on paper lighter than 100# text, we must insert 8's to make 16-page signatures before sewing.
• Be sure to check with the bindery if you have any cross-over printing that may require a glue trap on 2-page or 4-page tips onto signatures. We are not responsible for alignment if we do not OK the width of or need for the glue trap.
• Placement of odd signatures.

2-page	Tip to outside of back (rather than front) of any signature other than the last signature.
4-page	insert inside any signature
8-page	collate along with other signatures but never place at the end of the book as this will cause problems at sewing or perfect binding.

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Folding

• Paper Cover Books -- The maximum width (bind edge to fore edge) of an untrimmed folded signature is 12".
• Hard Cover Books -- The maximum width of an untrimmed folded signature is 12-9/16" for books that will be Smyth-sewn on high-speed machinery. Books up to 15" wide can be sewn on hand-fed machinery.
• Fold corner to corner. Excess trim over 1/4" should be slit off at folding.
• DO NOT perforate spines when folding books that will be Smyth sewn. Head perforations must not break away easily. This can result in additional sewing costs. Leave as much paper as possible between perforations to enable automatic machine-fed sewing.
• If in doubt have ACME fold for you.

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Special Requirements/Tips<

• You Must furnish a signed Purchase Order, complete with all details of your order for Acme Bookbinding to purchase materials, schedule and bind your book.
• If your job is Rush, all materials must be ordered well in advance to ensure availability.
• You Must furnish rule up sheets for any forms, covers, endpaper or jackets to be cut.
• You Must furnish a complete set of fold-downs for folding and collating.
• Be sure that heavy ink coverage will not smudge in bindery operations such as folding, gathering, sewing, smashing and pressing. Spray varnish can alleviate many of these problems. Please ask if you have any doubts.
• Printed Dust Jackets should have protection such as lamination or press varnish to prevent marking during machine jacket application. Hand jacket application is more costly.
• Be certain that laminated film on paper jackets or paper covers does not extend beyond the edge of the printed sheet. Improperly laminated covers cannot be accurately trimmed.
• French fold jackets and other jobs that require scoring, must be OK'd by the bindery to assure proper fit.
• If you are supplying endpaper, printed covers and/or paper dust jackets, please allow ample overage. The bindery can repair most books that are damaged during set-up and yield more salable books if you supply enough of these materials.
• Cover stock can not have coating on the inside surface for paper back books.
• Gate folded covers must have 3/8" (minimum) foot trim on signatures and covers. Gate fold flaps must be at least 1-1/2" less (narrower) than the trim width of the finished book.
• Additional charges will be necessary if cross-grain cover stock or ink coverage necessitates off-line scoring of paper covers.
• We do not recommend coated text stock for perfect bound books.

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Packing and Shipping

• Skid Dimensions

  Maximum Height 48"
  Maximum Width 36" (This is the side the skid jack enters)
  Maximum Length 44"

• Please pack printed covers (for paperbacks or jackets) on separate skids.
• Pack 4-page and 8-page signatures that require cutting and/or folding on separate skids.
• Be sure that folded signatures are packed carefully so that gathering equipment and high-speed sewing machines can be used. Deformed signatures will require hand operations that are more expensive. Please call if you have any doubts.
• If more than one folded signature will be placed on the same skid, follow these instructions to enable machine gathering:
  • Use chip board or paper to clearly separate different signatures.
  • Only consecutive signatures can be placed on the same skid.
  • Different signatures must be stacked side by side rather than on top of one another.
• DO NOT double stack skids when shipping.
• 24-hour (or more) advance notice on shipments to Acme will ensure timely scheduling of your job.
• You Must furnish press counts and/or folding counts with your shipping documents.

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4-Page Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Placement-----Strip to insert inside any signature.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.

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8-Page Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Placement-----Strip to collate along with other signatures but never place at the end of the book as this will cause problems at sewing or perfect binding.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.
• If you print on 100# text or heavier, we can sew 8-Page signatures.
• If you print on paper lighter than 100# text, we must insert 8's to make 16-page signatures--before sewing.

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12-Page Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.
• Arrows indicate the two panels that must be 1/16" smaller than and never larger than the inside panels. Without this allowance, the inside folds cannot be controlled.

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16-Page Oblong Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.
• Arrows indicate the two panels that must be 1/16" smaller than and never larger than the inside panels. Without this allowance, the inside folds cannot be controlled.

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16-Page Upright Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.

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24-Page Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.
• Arrows indicate the two panels that must be 1/16" smaller than and never larger than the inside panels. Without this allowance, the inside folds cannot be controlled.

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32-Page Imposition

• Do NOT perforate spines on Smyth sewn books.
• Minimum 1/4" head, foot and face trim required for Smyth sewn books.
• NO grind-off allowance in gutter for Smyth sewn books.
• 1/8" grind-off allowance in gutter for perfect bound books.

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